89-15: Design, Operation and Water Treatment of a Wet Finned Tube Exchanger

Due to high maintenances costs, the Southern California Gas Company replaced existing open cooling towers with "wet" Fin-Fan coolers. The "wet" Fin-Fan is similar to a standard Fin-Fan, but enclosed with "walls" which act as an evaporative air precooler. The "walls" which act as an evaporative air precooler. The "walls" are made from fiberglass evaporative fill material, over which water is circulated. Three such towers were constructed between 1982 and 1986. This presentation details the basic design, operation and water treatment of the "wet" Fin-Fan cooling towers. Special attention is focused on the evolution of the water treatment programs.